If you’re buying matcha powder for the first time, it’s hard to know where to start. Depending on how and where this Japanese green tea powder is grown and produced, it can vary widely in terms of taste and color, not to mention price. Readers often ask me which matcha powder is the best, but here’s the thing: there isn’t one best matcha powder for everyone. The qualities of the matcha you pick should depend on how you want to use it, and how often. A stronger, culinary grade powder is better for baking, while a ceremonial grade one is better for whisking into water and enjoying as tea. I recently tested ten popular brands, and I’m sharing my top picks for different uses and price points below. I hope you find a matcha powder you love, and if you want more background on matcha green tea, check out my What Is Matcha post!
Our Top Picks:
Reviews of The Best Matcha Powders
My Favorite Matcha Green Tea Powder: Ippodo Tea Ummon
The Ippodo Tea Ummon is the best ceremonial matcha I’ve tried, as well as my favorite matcha overall. I’ve used it for years to make matcha green tea, and I love its vibrant green color and balanced flavor. It tastes rich, deep, and earthy with only a hint of bitterness. It’s a great option for making both lattes and traditional matcha tea. It’s a bit expensive compared to some of the other matcha tea powders on this list, but we think the quality is well worth the price! Ippodo has a long history of producing matcha in Japan. If you’re looking for a high-quality matcha for drinking, you can’t go wrong with this one. The Specs:
Sizes: 0.7 and 1.41 ounces Ingredients: Green tea Caffeine: Amount not specified Sweetened: No
The Pros:
Balanced flavor Not too bitter Great drinking matcha – works well for green tea or lattes Smooth texture
What Others are Saying: Buy the Ippodo Tea Ummon:
Best Value: Nativas Organic Matcha Powder
For something a little more affordable, we recommend Nativas Organic Matcha Powder. At about $7 per ounce, this everyday matcha has an amazing price without sacrificing versatility. I enjoyed drinking it, but its flavor is strong enough for baking, too. Despite the bold taste, it’s not as bitter as other cheaper options I’ve tried. The Specs:
Sizes: 3 ounces Ingredients: Certified organic matcha leaf powder Caffeine: 16 milligrams Sweetened: No
The Pros:
Inexpensive Strong flavor Versatile for drinking and baking Not as bitter as other affordable options
The Cons:
More bitter than premium matcha
What Others are Saying: Buy the Nativas Organic Matcha Powder:
Best Matcha Powder for Lattes: Golde Pure Matcha Ceremonial Grade
When it comes to choosing a latte-worthy matcha, you want a powder that’s bold enough not to get lost in the milk’s flavor. This ceremonial-grade matcha has a deep, intense flavor that stands out in a latte. In addition, it doesn’t have any added sugars, which allows you to sweeten your latte to taste. We even think it’d be great in smoothies. The Specs:
Sizes: 1.4 and 3.5 ounces Ingredients: Matcha green tea powder Caffeine: 60 milligrams Sweetened: No
The Pros:
Strong flavor Works well as a mix-in A great price for ceremonial-grade
The Cons:
More bitter than other ceremonial-grade matchas
What Others are Saying: The Strategist named the Golde matcha powder best option for lattes, and Food & Wine named this the best overall matcha powder. Buy the Golde Pure Matcha Ceremonial Grade:
Best Sweetened Matcha Powder: Rishi Tea Sweet Matcha
If you only keep matcha on hand for lattes, you might enjoy Rishi’s sweet matcha powder. I love that it whisks into water easily — there were no clumps! — so making a quick latte is a breeze. And because it’s sweetened with cane sugar, you don’t have to add a separate sweetener to your drink. The Specs:
Sizes: 4.4 and 35.2 ounces Ingredients: Japanese matcha green tea, cane sugar Caffeine: Amount not specified Sweetened: Yes
The Pros:
Inexpensive Whisks easily into water No need for separate sweetener
The Cons:
Can be too sweet for some
What Others are Saying: Buy the Rishi Tea Sweet Matcha:
Best Matcha Powder for Baking: Aiya Authentic Japanese Matcha Powder
When you bake with matcha, you want a powder with a bold flavor that can shine through other ingredients. So, when I make my Matcha Donuts, I use this culinary-grade option from Aiya for both the donuts and the frosting. It has a strong taste, adding the earthy flavor that matcha fans know and love to these treats and other baked goods. Another plus? It’s relatively affordable at just $6 per ounce. The Specs:
Sizes: 3.52 ounces Ingredients: Pure matcha green tea Caffeine: Amount not specified Sweetened: No
The Pros:
Strong, earthy flavor Works well as a mix-in Inexpensive
The Cons:
Some people note bitterness
What Others are Saying: The Spruce Eats calls this the best matcha powder for beginners, and Outlook India named it one of the best matchas. Buy the Aiya Authentic Japanese Origin Culinary Grade Matcha Powder:
Best for Beginners: Ujido Ceremonial Blend Matcha
If you’re trying out matcha for the first time, the flavor can take some getting used to and the mixing process can be a bit tricky. For this reason, we recommend starting with an affordable option you can play around with. Ujido’s ceremonial-grade option has a balanced, grassy flavor with a hint of bitterness that you’ll enjoy. We suggest trying it as a green tea or as a matcha latte to test out the flavor profile without spending too much. The Specs:
Sizes: 2 ounces Ingredients: Powdered green tea leaves Caffeine: Amount not specified Sweetened: No
The Pros:
Balanced, grassy flavor Not too bitter Affordable
The Cons:
No tin, so can expire more quickly
What Others are Saying: Food & Wine named the Ujido matcha powder the best option for smoothies. Buy the Ujido Ceremonial Blend Matcha:
Other Matcha Powders to Consider
Matchaful Hikari Single Origin Ceremonial Matcha Jade Leaf Culinary Grade Matcha Love Culinary Matcha
How We Tested Matcha Powders
We had so much fun testing the best matcha powders! I’ve been drinking matcha for years, as has Love & Lemons senior editor Phoebe. We each had a favorite brand going into the test (I’ve been a huge fan of Ippodo ever since I tried their matcha on a trip to Japan), but the test was a unique opportunity to really taste the differences between powders and get familiar with more types of matcha on the market.
We wanted to try a range of powders—some ceremonial, some culinary—at different price points. To select which matcha powders to test, we got recommendations from readers and matcha-drinking friends and looked online to find other well reviewed matcha brands we hadn’t heard of. We selected a group of ten and tried each powder in water, in a latte, and in a baking recipe, evaluating for taste, color, and consistency. Suffice it to say, we were well caffeinated that day!
Everything to Know Before Buying Matcha Powder
What to Consider Before Buying Matcha Powder
Matcha powders vary a ton from brand to brand. Here are a few factors to consider before choosing the best one for you: Flavor: My ideal matcha has a bold, earthy taste that’s not too bitter. While a good all-purpose matcha works well for both drinks and baked goods, I think ones with more bitterness are best balanced out by the milk in a latte or the sugar in a dessert. And if you splurge on a high-quality ceremonial grade matcha powder, you might want to save it for tea. You wouldn’t want to cover up its nuanced flavor profile with other ingredients. Shelf life: For the best color and flavor, you should use matcha within two months of opening it. For that reason, I recommend buying it in small quantities and storing it in the fridge to preserve freshness. Some options on this list also come in tins to help preserve the freshness. Caffeine: One of the things I love about matcha is how it makes me feel energized and calm simultaneously — I don’t feel jittery like I do after drinking coffee. Still, if you’re caffeine-sensitive, you may want an option that discloses how much caffeine is in a single serving. Not all brands share this information online. Price: If you’re new to matcha and unsure how often you’ll reach for it, you may want to start off with a budget-friendly pick, especially knowing it has a short shelf life.
How Do You Use Matcha Powder?
This is typically how I make matcha tea at home: Because matcha clumps easily, I start by sifting ¼ teaspoon of matcha powder into a small bowl. Next, I add 2 ounces of hot (ideally 175°F) water and begin whisking in a zig-zag pattern to disperse the powder and create a foamy consistency. Finally, I add an additional 6 ounces of hot water or milk and whisk again until foamy. If you want, finish by sweetening your matcha using maple syrup or honey. For even more guidance on how to make matcha, check out my Matcha 101 post.
Do You Need A Bamboo Whisk for Matcha Tea?
We recommend buying a bamboo whisk if you plan to make matcha drinks often. This type of whisk, called a chasen, is designed to break up clumps that can occur from the powder and liquid mixing together, and it creates a frothy layer on top of the drink. You can also use a metal whisk or a milk frother in place of a chasen, but whisking with a fork or stirring with a spoon won’t combine the matcha and liquid as thoroughly.
Does Matcha Powder Have Caffeine?
The amount of caffeine in matcha depends on the individual powder, but generally, matcha contains more caffeine than other green teas. Depending on the powder and the amount you use (I recommend 1⁄4 teaspoon), the amount of caffeine may be more or less than a cup of coffee, which is 96 milligrams. Not all matcha powders offer a specific caffeine amount, so be sure to check the nutrition label if you’re caffeine-conscious.
What Are the Benefits of Matcha Tea?
Making a cup of regular green tea involves steeping the leaves in hot water and then tossing them, but with matcha, you’re consuming the entire, ground-up leaf in powder form when you whisk it into water, which means you’re consuming even more antioxidants than you would with regular green tea. The antioxidants in matcha may also lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease, and boost metabolism.
Does Matcha Powder Expire?
Regardless of the expiration date on the package, we recommend consuming matcha within two months of opening it for peak freshness. Over time, especially if it’s not stored in a cool, dry place, matcha will oxidize and lose its flavor and color.
The Best Matcha Recipes
Ready to get your matcha on? Here are some of my most popular recipes that use matcha powder:
Matcha Latte Matcha Baked Doughnuts Mango Smoothie
Prices were accurate at time of publication.
